Nothing has leapt out at me in the world of sports for the last few weeks, but a few things have stuck around in my mind for that same amount of time in such a way I thought I had to get them out.

TERRY FRANCONA
(Ex-Manager of the Boston Red Sox)

The Red Sox fired Francona after the Red Sox fail to make the playoffs on the last day of the 2011 season.

This makes no sense to me.

The Red Sox were the best team in the American League from May until August, had a loaded roster that was made even better by the acquisition of Carl Crawford from Tampa Bay and Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego in the off-season and were the odds-on favorite to go to the World Series of everyone who knew anything about Major League Baseball.

The Red Sox had 6 Wins and 18 Losses in the month of September to blow a 9-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays.

I'm sure Francona is the only one responsible for that collapse.

The New York Yankees didn't even mention firing manager Joe Torre after the 2004 playoffs when the Yankees blew a 3 games to 0 lead over the Red Sox to lose the American League Championship Series, 4 games to 3 (the first time a collapse of that kind had ever happened in Major League Baseball). There certainly was no muttering about Torre being fired after the Red Sox tied the series at 3 games a piece.

By contrast, Francona was rumored to maybe be fired with two days and two games left in the season.

I have one word for the Red Sox organization:
Scapegoat

You found one in Francona.
The man who managed your team to two World Series titles after 85 years of not winning one at all. Total class, gang.

Total class.

THE TEXAS RANGERS
(The Defending American League Champions)

This club got no love during the year.
This club has gotten no love through this point in the playoffs.

Right now, the Rangers are up 1 game to none over the Detroit Tigers in the American League Championship Series - and they just beat (certain) Cy Young Award winner, Justin Verlander in doing it.

This crew is working on going to their second World Series in a row.
Does anyone mention that on sports television or sports radio?
No.

If the Yankees or the Red Sox were in the same position, they would be the talk of baseball and all the talk would be about adding another brick in the wall of the dynasty.

But not a peep.

Here's to watching the Texas Ranger start their own dynasty -
The Yankees and Red Sox can sit at home and watch them, too.

THE NFL
(Or is it Arena Football?)

Stop passing the ball so much.
It's cool to do that and all, really.
But run the ball successfully and you will win games.
Really.
Winning is cool and all.
(See the LoudMouth on this, right here.)